2020 Aotearoa Music Awards Explained

2020 Aotearoa Music Awards
Awarded For:Excellence in New Zealand music
Location:Spark Arena
Country:New Zealand
Reward:Tui award trophy
Website:http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz
Network:Three
The Edge TV
Previous:2019
Main:Aotearoa Music Awards
Next:2021

The 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards was the 55th holding of the annual ceremony, renamed the Aotearoa Music Awards featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. It took place on 15 November 2020 at Spark Arena in Auckland and was hosted by Jesse Mulligan, Sharyn Casey, and Jayden King. The awards show was broadcast live nationally on The Edge TV from 7pm until 8:30pm, and Three from 8:30pm until 10:30pm.[1]

Nominees and winners

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.[2] [3]

Album of the Year
Te Pukaemi o te Tau
Single of the Year
Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau
Best Group
Te Roopu Toa
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau
  • The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers
    • L.A.B. – L.A.B. III
    • Miss June – Bad Luck Party
    • Six60 – Six60
Best Solo Artist
Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa
Best Māori Artist
Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa
  • BENEE – Stella & Steve
    • JessBNew Views
    • Nadia ReidOut of My Province
    • Reb Fountain - Reb Fountain
Best Pop Artist
Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa
Best Alternative Artist
Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa
  • BENEE
    • Paige
    • Six60
  • The Beths
    • Mermaidens
    • Reb Fountain
Best Soul / RnB Artist
Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa
Best Hip Hop Artist
Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa
  • Haz & Miloux
    • Lepani
    • Stan Walker
  • Church & AP
    • Choicevaughan
    • Raiza Biza
Best Roots Artist
Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa
Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award
  • L.A.B.
    • Lomez Brown
    • Ria Hall
  • Mōhau
    • Maimoa
    • Six60
Best Electronic Artist
Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa
Best Rock Artist
Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa
  • City of Souls
    • Devilskin
    • Villainy
Best Worship Artist
Te Kaipuoro Kairangi Toa
Best Classical Artist
Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa
  • Mōhau
    • Kane Adams
    • Te Rautini
  • Andrew Beer & Sarah Watkins
    • Klara Kollektiv
    • Matthew Marshall
Peoples' Choice Award
Te Kōwhiri o te Nuinga
Recorded Music NZ Legacy Award
Tohu Whakareretanga
  • L.A.B.
  • Johnny Cooper
  • Max Merritt
  • Peter Rosa, Dinah Lee
  • The Chicks and Larry's Rebels
Highest selling Artist
Te Toa Hoko Teitei
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year
Te Rikoata Marakerake o te Tau
  • Drax Project featuring Six60
  • Drax Project
Recorded Music NZ International Achievement
Tohu Tutuki o te Ao
Best Folk Artist
Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa
  • BENEE
  • Jawsh 685
  • Mel Parsons – Glass Heart
    • Victoria Vigenser & Lindsay Martin – The Gap
    • Paper Cranes – Voices
Best Pacific Music Album
Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa
Best Country Artist
Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa
  • Olivia Foa’iCandid
    • Church & AP – Teeth
    • POETIK – HAMOFIED 2 EP
  • Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders – Word Gets Around
    • Katie Thompson – Bittersweet
    • Kendall Elise – Red Earth
Best Jazz Artist
Te Kaipuoro Tautito Toa
Best Children’s Artist
Te Kaipuoro Waiata Tamariki Toa
  • Dixon Nacey – The Edge of Chaos
    • ALCHEMY – ALCHEMY
    • Michal Martyniuk – Resonate
  • Anika Moa – Songs For Bubbas 3
    • Captain Festus McBoyle
    • Chris Sanders
Massey University Best Producer
Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa
Best Engineer
Te Kaipukaha Toa
  • Josh Fountain
  • Simon Gooding - Reb Fountain by Reb Fountain
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Te Puoro Ataata Toa
Best Album Artwork
Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi Toa
  • Anahera Parata - Bunga by SWIDT
  • Lily Paris West - Look Me In They Eye by Mermaiden
Recorded Music NZ Manager of the Year
Kaiwhakahaere Puoro o te Tau
  • Paul McKessar from CRS Management (award returned)[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Rutledge . Daniel . Tupou . Laura . As it happened: 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards . en . Newshub . 16 November 2020.
  2. Web site: BENEE and the Beths win big at the Aotearoa Music Awards. Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2020. 20 March 2022.
  3. Web site: Aotearoa Music Awards | Unsung heroes of Aotearoa music celebrated tonight at the Artisan Awards.
  4. Web site: 2021-01-25. Benee's manager Paul McKessar hands back Aotearoa Music Award, apologises for past behaviour. 2021-03-03. Stuff. en.